By Oluwakemi Kindness
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has warned that fabricated reports and AI-generated videos could trigger unrest and undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
He said misleading information could provoke public reactions, discourage voter participation and weaken trust in election results if authorities and the media failed to address it.
Disu spoke on Wednesday at the annual conference and awards of the Crime Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CCAN) at the Police Resource Centre, Jabi, Abuja.
Citing an old video circulated online as footage of a recent attack, the police chief explained how false reports could inflame tensions and disrupt activities in affected communities.
“Fake news does not merely accompany insecurity; it can manufacture it,” he said.
He urged journalists to verify security-related reports, establish the origins of videos and seek clarification from relevant authorities before publication.
As part of efforts to tackle misinformation, Disu announced plans for a verification arrangement between the police and CCAN to give accredited journalists access to official information during the 2027 election period.
He said the police were also deploying digital forensic tools to identify fabricated content and monitoring online platforms through the National Cybercrime Centre.
However, he stressed that the measures would not prevent journalists or citizens from legitimately criticising the police.
CCAN Chairman, Festus Fifen, said journalists must ensure that misinformation did not compound Nigeria’s security challenges as the country approaches another election cycle.
He urged reporters to prioritise accuracy, noting that the media’s responsibility to protect public peace extended beyond reporting physical security threats to scrutinising information circulating among citizens.
